Javier Mascherano Calls Argentina Best Team in His 42 Years Ahead of World Cup Final

Former Argentina national team player Javier Mascherano praised the current Argentina squad ahead of the 2024 World Cup final against Spain, scheduled for Sunday at 22:00. Mascherano, who earned 147 caps for Argentina and retired after the 2018 World Cup, highlighted the team's remarkable journey as defending champions from 2022 and their impressive consistency over recent years. Speaking at a FIFA Fan Fest event in New York's Rockefeller Center, Mascherano emphasized Argentina's calm and composure, noting that both finalists have shown exceptional stability over the past three to four years. He added that Argentina has been even more consistent than Spain during this period.

Mascherano, who served as head coach of Inter Miami until April 2024 and coached Lionel Messi, called this final a great showcase of football, featuring two teams playing excellent soccer. Reflecting on Argentina's history, he stated this is the best national team he has seen in his 42 years, surpassing even the legendary 1986 squad, which he could not remember well due to his young age at the time. He credited coach Lionel Scaloni as the central figure behind the team's success, saying Scaloni makes Argentinians proud. Mascherano also recalled Argentina's runner-up finish in 2014, when they lost 1-0 to Germany in the final, underscoring the current team's completeness and quality.